Speaking to Italian television, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem says that “everyone must do everything possible to put an end this situation."

"It is objectively intolerable."

That’s how Cardinal Pierbattista  Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, described the situation in Gaza in a recent interview with the Italian television station TV2000.

“We have always had many problems of all kinds,” he continued, “and even the economic-financial situation has always been very fragile, but there has never been hunger before."

"Everyone - religious, political, and social communities," said Cardinal Pizzaballa, "must do everything possible to put an end this situation."

The absence of the US

"The weakness of the United States," emphasized the Patriarch, "creates a great dilemma, because until now there has always been someone to put things in order. Now there is no longer anyone to play this role, and we have to do it ourselves. I don't know if, how, and when this will be possible."

Easter in times of war

Speaking days before the beginning of Holy Week, Cardinal Pizzaballa offered his reassurance that permits will be granted to Christians living in Palestinian territories to allow them to visit Jerusalem for liturgies.

"We’ll get the permits," he said. "We insisted, saying that as they had given permits to Muslims for Ramadan, they should also give them to Christians for Easter. Even if the numbers are smaller, we will have several thousand permits both for Palm Sunday and for Easter."

"It will be a difficult Easter," Cardinal Pizzaballa concluded. "I think of the loneliness of Jesus in Gethsemane, which is now shared by all of us."